The well - trained soldiers were divided into two groups to surround the magistrate's mansion and the Zhang Mansion. Since Shi Muyuan was here, Shi An didn't have to worry too much. He directly ordered his men to break in.
Some soldiers had already controlled the servants in the Zhang Mansion. Shi An and Shi Muyuan led their men in without any hindrance. Kicking open the door of Second Master Zhang's room, Shi An saw two naked corpses on the floor. The room was filled with a nauseating smell mixed with the thick stench of blood.
It was fresh blood.
Frowning, he quickly turned around and stopped Shi Muyuan from stepping forward.
"Stay outside. I'll go in and arrest the culprit."
Through the gaps between Shi An's fingers, Shi Muyuan also caught a glimpse of the blue - black ankle on the floor. With the door wide open and the owner of the ankle lying there like that, she roughly guessed why she was not allowed to go in.
She nodded slightly, took a half - step back, and raised her hand to cover her nose and mouth. Only then did Shi An lead two soldiers into the room.
Second Master Zhang had been lying in bed, waiting for the servant to bring the delicate young lady he had mentioned.
When the door was violently kicked open, Second Master Zhang's fat body trembled. He quickly stood up and walked out, scolding angrily with his pig - like face: "Which bastard is this, asking for death!"
Two soldiers rushed in and twisted him to the ground. Seeing his naked body and the two unbearable corpses beside him, Shi An's eyes showed undisguised disgust.
How dare this man even have thoughts about his sister! He was really bold as brass!
Even when Second Master Zhang was caught, he kept shouting and threatening the two soldiers. Suddenly, he was kicked hard in the mouth, and several broken teeth flew out, with blood gushing out.
Second Master Zhang's eyes were dizzy, and his mouth hurt so much that he couldn't close it.
"Cover him with clothes and take him to the magistrate's mansion." Shi An didn't look at him any more.
"Yes, General."
In the magistrate's mansion, the magistrate stood in the hall in a panic, constantly shouting at the vigilant soldiers around him: "Who are you? How dare you break into a court official's mansion at will? Aren't you afraid of the emperor's punishment?"
"Afraid of the emperor's punishment? Do you dare to report it?" Shi An walked in domineeringly, his voice deep. Behind him, his men escorted Second Master Zhang, who had just put on some clothes in a hurry.
The magistrate was stunned when he saw this.
Was the matter exposed?
Moreover, this man was wearing the black - sky armor, which showed that his rank was not low. He was so bold as to break in and arrest people. It was all over now.
Holding a glimmer of hope, the magistrate calmed himself down and said: "Your Excellency, if you have detected problems in my county, you should inform me first or show some valid documents instead of just breaking in like this."
"Our general has made great military achievements on the battlefield. Even the people in the court are afraid of him. Who do you think you are, daring to talk nonsense here?" A soldier stepped forward angrily: "You are a criminal. Why don't you kneel down quickly?"
Shi An glared at the soldier. The soldier knew that the general didn't like them talking like this, so he kicked the magistrate and then stepped back.
The magistrate was kicked in the knee and fell to the ground: "You, you, you, how dare you be so presumptuous!" He pointed at the soldier angrily. But when he saw Shi An beside him, his arrogance faded.
"I didn't know that I needed to report to anyone before entering the mansion of a mere seventh - rank official." Shi Muyuan's voice came in before she did.
"Waner." Seeing her, Shi An's tone became much softer, but it was not difficult to hear a hint of disapproval in his voice.
He didn't want Shi Muyuan to come with him in the first place. He didn't expect that as soon as she came, she exposed her identity. Although it made things more convenient, he still thought it was inappropriate. There must be someone who would use this matter to make trouble.
Seeing that his sister was still wearing wet clothes, he frowned, took off his cloak and put it on her: "Use big brother's first. Don't catch a cold."
The magistrate was stunned. The self - reference of "I, the Dowager" could not be used casually. Moreover, the person in front of him was a general. Maybe this was really the Dowager Empress.
But why would the Dowager Empress come to his small county? There was no news about the Dowager's trip today.
The magistrate didn't know that on the day when Shi Muyuan and Huo Qizhou were assassinated and disappeared, the news was blocked in the capital city of Changjing. They were afraid that someone would take advantage of this to cause chaos. Even when they sent people out to look for them, they did it in the name of the Shi family, saying that they were looking for a collateral young lady.
Second Master Zhang had also come to his senses at this time. It was all over.
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, there must be some misunderstanding here!" The magistrate pleaded.
"Misunderstanding? Are the two corpses in that Zhang's room just for show?" Shi An shouted.
"How bold! The Dowager Empress got lost in the forest while out for a stroll and was kidnapped by villains. Fortunately, we arrived in time. Otherwise, even if we executed your nine generations of relatives, it wouldn't be enough!"
Second Master Zhang's face turned ashen. The bloodstains on the corpses in the room were irrefutable evidence. No matter how he defended himself, he couldn't escape.
The magistrate only thought that Second Master Zhang's matter was exposed. He didn't expect that the stupid fool had kidnapped the Dowager Empress. Originally, it was just a matter of losing his official position, but now he might even lose his life.
The magistrate immediately knelt down and shouted: "Please spare my life, Dowager Empress. Please spare my life. I really don't know anything, really!"
"Your Excellency, I'm innocent. I don't know anything. It's all his fault. He dared to do such dirty things right under my nose. It's... it's my dereliction of duty. Please punish me."
The magistrate pointed at Second Master Zhang, who was lying on the ground limply. Second Master Zhang had lost his wits and was unable to refute the magistrate's accusation.
"Hehe, Magistrate, weren't you going to seek justice from the emperor, saying that I broke into your official residence without permission? How dare I punish you? How about I send you to the capital city of Changjing right now on a fast horse? The Dowager Empress is here. You can just talk to her."
It was a joke. How dare he expose what he had done to the emperor? He had just been scaring the soldiers before.
The magistrate still wanted to defend himself, but he felt that his voice was broken and he couldn't say a complete sentence for a long time. He seemed to have lost his soul. But the people above didn't urge him. It seemed that they had already made a decision and were just watching him struggle like they were watching a play.
Behind him, his whole family was hugging each other and crying loudly. Two tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes and hung on his goatee.
Shi Muyuan sat in the magistrate's seat, holding the hand - warmer that Shi An had someone buy. Squinting her eyes, she said: "You don't know? But I've heard a lot from others."
She slapped the solid wooden table hard, which hurt her hand. She pretended to be serious and retracted her hand, rubbing it in her sleeve.